The Muscogee (Creek) Nation invites you to join in a project dedication for the restoration of the Council House on March 21, 2017 at 10 a.m. This historic project represents a new day for the Nation as we begin to restore the Council House and tell the stories of the Muscogee people who came before, the battles they fought, and the legacy they wished to leave for the entire Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

From 1878 to 1906, the Creek Council House functioned as the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s seat of government in Indian Territory. However, following a series of Federal decrees, tribally-owned buildings and schools in Indian Territory transferred to US governmental control and jurisdiction. It was eventually sold as federal government property to the City of Okmulgee in 1919.

After almost 90 years, the Nation regained ownership over the Council House in 2010. This is the only pre-statehood structure that the Muscogee (Creek) Nation owns. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service in 1961 and reflects its importance not only to the Muscogee people, but also its historical significance to the United States.

The completely renovated Council House will for the first time present the history, context, and present-day operations of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation tribal government. The exhibits will be designed to spotlight key government activities and historical events that took place within the Council House between 1878 and 1906. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation will once again use various rooms for tribal governmental meetings and it will be a contemporary space serving contemporary Tribal government functions. The restoration of the Council House will be complete in 2017 and open to the public in mid-2018. Please join us as we celebrate the beginning of the careful restoration of the Council House.